Apparatus for making shoes



y 2, 1967 J. FORMA ETAL APPARATUS FOR MAKING SHOES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 24, 1963 INVENTORS 4 (Email farm Wp'Zzmw EJerZj-y 477'):

May 1967 J. FORMA ETAL 3,

APPARATUS FOR MAKING SHOES Filed Sept. 24, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 2, 1967 J. FORMA ETAL 3,316,572

APPARATUS FOR MAKING SHOES Filed Sept. 24, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 4 Al I f 1 n i w J, a;

United States Patent Office 3,316,572 APPARATUS FOR MAKING SHGES James L. Forma, Andover, and William F. Herlihy, Haverhill, Mass, assignors to Lowell Molding Corporation, Lawrence, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Filed Sept. 24, 1963, Ser. No. 311,138 12 Claims. (Cl. 12-125) This invention relates to an apparatus for forming and heel seat lasting the back part of an upper to a bottom element in one operation, and especially to imparting a final shape to the back part of the upper to make it ready for toe lasting, side lasting and bottom-attaching operations. Other objects are to provide an apparatus by means of which a final shape may be imparted to the back part of an upper without the necessity of further shaping or ironing; to provide an apparatus by means of which greater permanence is imparted to the formed back part; to provide an apparatus by means of which the back part may be symmetrically formed with respect to a heelto-toe median or asymmetrically formed to the hand of a left or right shoe; and to provide an apparatus whereby the lasting margin is permanently bonded to the bottom part only at the heel end and is left unattached forwardly of the breast line.

As herein illustrated, the apparatus comprises a male form having an exterior surface complementary to the quarter portion of the heel end and an upwardly facing heel seat portion about which the upper is adapted to be placed with the margin extending upwardly from the bottom face of the heel seat and upon which is adapted to he placed an unconnected bottom element, spaced positioning elements on the heel seat face situated on the median operative, by engagement with the bottom element, to hold it accurately positioned, and an activator element mounted adjacent the male form movable from a lateral position into engagement with the marginal edge of the bottom element peripherally of the positioning means. The activator means provides a gauge above the heel seat face by means of which the upper is adapted to be adjusted heightwise of the male form. A female mold part, complementary to the male form, is operative to clamp the upper, when properly positioned on the male form, and there is means operably associated with the female mold part and the activator operative automatically to move the activator to an out of-the-way position in consonance with the movement of the female mold part into clamping engagement with the male form. Following clamping of the female mold part with the male form, wipers, movable with the female mold part, are advanced across the 'heel seat face to fold the margin into engagement with the activated adhesive at the marginal edge of the bottom element, there is means for maintaining the female mold part and wipers in their operative positions for a predetermined length of time, and for then retracting the wipers and the female mold part successively. The activator is a horseshoe shaped element corresponding in shape to the heel end of the bottom element and has a heightwise thickness corresponding to the width of the margin to be folded into engagement with the heel end of the bottom element.

The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective of the upper portion of a shoe situated bottom up with its heel end pulled about the lateral surface of a male mold part and with its margin projecting above the heel seat surface thereof, and with an insole supported on the heel seat surface within the upwardly projecting margin of the upper;

FIG. 2 is a perspective at the heel end of the bottom of the upper after it has been molded and heel seat lasted 3,316,572 Patented May 2, 1967 to a bottom element in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 3 is an elevation of an apparatus for molding and heel seat lasting the back part of a shoe as shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an elevation, to much larger scale, partly in section, showing the activator and means for effecting its operation;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary detail of part of the means for effecting operation of the activator;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary plan view of the back part of the upper and bottom with the activator situated within the upstanding margin at the heel end;

FIG. 7 is a section taken on the line 77 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an elevation, partly in section, showing the male and female mold parts, the wiper elements and means for effecting relative movement;

FIG. 9 is a front elevation of FIG. 8; and

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary plan view of FIG. 9.

The heel end molding and heel seat lasting apparatus may comprise two mold assemblies arranged side-by-side for alternate use, or a plurality of mold assemblies mounted on a rotor for intermittent rotation about a horizontal axis for successive use, as illustrated, for example, in United States Patent No. 3,007,182, dated Nov. 7, 1961, and herein in FIG. 3.

As herein illustrated (FIG. 3), the machine has a housing 10 supporting a shaft 12 for rotation about a horizontal axis on which is mounted a rotor 14. The rotor has fixed to it a plurality of mold assemblies 16. Each mold assembly comprises a rigid male form 18- having an exterior peripheral surface 20 which is complementary to the end of the shoe to be shaped, and a flat, upwardly facing heel seat surface 22. The male form 18 is removably fastened to a box-like casting 24 which, in turn, as shown in the aforementioned patent, is mounted on the rotor 14. The form 18 may be removed from the casting and replaced by one of different size to accommodate the apparatus for shoes of different size.

A pair of spaced pins 26-26 (FIGS. 7, 8 and 10) are fixed in the upper heel seat surface 22 On the median line of the form by means of which a bottom element b, which is provided with correspondingly spaced holes 28--28, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, may be positioned on the male form.

As thus provided, an upper u may be placed about the exterior surface 20 of the male form 18 with its marginal edge In projecting above the heel seat surface 22 (FIG. 7), and a bottom element may be placed on the seat surface over the pins so that its heel end is situated within the upstanding flange of the upper. The bottom element may comprise an entire insole, as shown, for example, in FIG. 1, or may be a tuck.

In the preferred practice of the invention, the bottom element is precoated with an activatable adhesive a (FIG. 1) and activation is effected after the bottom element is applied to the male form, preparatory to attaching the margin In at the back part of the upper thereto, by an activator element 30 which has a horseshoe shaped part 32, as shown in FIG. 6. The activator is mounted at one end of an arm 24 (FIG. 4), pivotally supported intermediate its ends for tilting about an axis above and arallel to the bottom of the male form on a pin 36, the latter, in turn, being supported at the top of the housing by a bracket 38. To permit leveling of the activator relative to the bottom of the male form and heightwise adjustment thereof, the activator is secured to a ball and socket assembly 40. The ball and socket assembly is, in turn, fixed to a bracket 42 containing a slot 44 through which a bolt 46 is secured to the arm 24. A fluid pressureoperated cylinder 48 is pivotally supported on the wall of the housing adjacent the other end of the arm 24 and has a rod 50 protruding therefrom which is pivotally connected to the arm 24.

Activation of the adhesive is effected by means of heat supplied to the activator which renders the adhesive on the bottom element tacky so as to adhere to the margin of the upper when the latter is forced into engagement therewith. As herein shown, an electric conductor 52, passing through the ball and socket assembly, supplies current to a heating element embedded in the activator.

Optionally, the bottom element could be provided without an adhesive coating and an applicator could be substituted for the activator for applying adhesive.

It is desirable to gauge the heightwise position of the upper on the male form in such fashion that the throat of the upper will be at the best position on the form and this is accomplished herein by employing the activator element not only for the purpose of activating or applying the adhesive but also to measure the height that the upper edge of the lasting margin should be relative to the heel seat surface. In its simplest form, the'heightwise thickness of the activator is made to correspond to the width of the upper which is to be folded over into engagement with the bottom element (FIG. 7). However, if it is not desired to make the entire activator of such thickness, only a part thereof may be made of this thickness. The activator may be replaced for others of different thickness, for shoe of different size, and its heightwise position adjusted by adjustment of the bracket 42. This type of heightwise positioning of the gauge has an advantage in that it is independently adjustable relative to the male form, does not have contact with any finished part of the upper, and is removed to an out-of-the-way position after it has performed its function.

Following disposition of the upper about the male form and heightwise adjustment relative to the bottom element positioned on the heel seat surface of the male form, the back part is clamped into engagement with the entire peripheral surface of the male form by a female mold element 54 of articulated construction, as shown, for example, in United States Patent No. 3,090,980, dated May 28, 1963, and in FIGS. 8 to 10 herein. The female mold element 54 is movable linearly toward the male form and angularly to embrace the exterior surface of the male form. The means for effecting movement of the female mold is a fluid-operable cylinder 56 having a rod 59 protruding therefrom which is connected to the female mold. As illustrated in the foregoing atent, the movement of the female mold is initiated by depressing a foot pedal 58 at the bottom of the housing which operates a valve to supply fluid pressure to the cylinder 56. At the same time, fluid pressure is supplied to a cylinder (not shown) for moving a pair of pawls 60-60 (FIG. only one of which is shown herein, relative to a notched plate 62 fixed to the shaft 12, to a position for engagement with notches 6464 in the plate for holding the plate fixed, preparatory to rotating the plate, and hence the shaft which, in turn, rotates the rotor. The movement of one of the pawls 60 (FIG. 5) from the full line position to the dotted line position is taken advantage of herein to lift a roller 66 which rests on the peripheral surface of the plate and is pivotally mounted at the distal end of an arm 68, the proximal end of which is pivotally mounted on a bracket 70. The bracket 70 is clamped to a valve V1 supported adjacent the edge of the plate by an arm 72. A pin 74, fixed to the arm, is moved thereby into engagement with the protruding end of a valve spool 76 when the roller is lifted by the pawl to permit pressure fluid to enter the upper end of the cylinder 48. Pressure applied to the upper end of the cylinder raises the activator from the heel end of the bottom element concomitantly with the movement of the female mold forwardly into engagement with the male form.

The fluid pressure is supplied to the cylinder 48, by

way of a three-way distributor vlave V2 (FIG. 4) connected by conductors C1 and C2 to the opposite ends. Pressure fluid is supplied ot the valve V2 through a conductor C3 from a source and distribution of the fluid pressure is controlled by a pilot shiftable in one direction by pressure by-passed through a conductor C4 from the conductor C3, and in the other direction by pressure supplied from the valve V1 through a conductor C5.

After the female mold 54 has been firmly engaged with the male part 18, the operator presses a pair of push buttons B1, B2 (FIG. 3), which supply fluid pressure to the cylinder which shifts the pawls 6060, so as to rotate the plate 62 the distance of one notch thereby rotating the shaft 12 and shifting the mold assembly 16, upon which the upper was clamped, one step counterclockwise.

A pair of wipers 80 (FIGS. 8 and 9) are supported on the casting 24 and are movable forwardly over the male form by a fluid-operable motor 82, to which fluid is delivered after the rotor has moved the assembly from the top position to the position stepped to the left. The wipers are pivotally mounted, closed by forward movement, as illustrated in Patent No. 3,090,980, and are yieldably pressed downwardly by spring pressure and a fluid motor 84. The same motor 84 is operative, when the rotor has made a complete turn, to lift the wipers away from the heel end to release the pressure on the margin of the upper whereupon they are withdrawn by rearward movement of the female mold part. The female mold part is, in turn, withdrawn by rearward movement of the male form.

As herein shown in FIG. 1, an upper with a counter disposed in the heel end is first rendered soft, pliable and stretchy by exposure to steam, heat or a softening fluid whereupon it is placed about the male form with its margin extending above the heel seat face; a bottom element, for example, a full insole or a tuck to the heel end of which adhesive has been applied, is placed on the heel seat area over the pins; and then the margins of the upper, at about the waist, are grasped and pulled forwardly, that is, away from the heel end toward the toe so as to stretch the soft stretchy back part of the upper about the exterior surface of the male form and to pull the forward portions of the quarters inwardly at the waist so as to conform the upper closely to the exterior surface of the form. The adhesive is now activated, clamping stresses are applied to the entire heel end of the upper to hold it in its stretched and closely conformed condition, and then wiping stresses are applied parallel to the heel seat surface to press the margin into engagement with the heel end of the bottom element. These stresses are maintained until the counter becomes rigid and the adhesive sets whereupon the stresses are removed first from the lasting margin and then from the heel end.

The counter at the heel end of the shoe may be comprised of any commercially available counter stock with or without a stiffening agent and attached or unattached, that is, sewn or adhesively secured to the back part or merely situated in a pocket at the back part. Optionally, the counter may be omitted and the back part coated with a material of a thermoplastic character which, following softening, will set up and impart rigidity to the back part of the upper.

It should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purpose of illustration only and that this invention includes all modifications and equivalents which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for shaping and heel seat lasting the back part of an upper to a bottom element, comprising a male form having an eterior surf-ace complementary to the quarter at the back part of the upper, and an upwardly facing flat heel seat portion, about the exterior surface of which the upper is adapted to be placed with its margin extending above the heel seat portion, and upon which is adapted to be placed a bottom element, spaced positioning elements on the heel portion, situated on the median thereof, operative, by engagement of the bottom element therewith, to hold the bottom element accurately positioned, an activator element mounted adjacent the male form movable from an inoperative position into engagement with the marginal edge of the bottom element peripherally of the spaced positioning means, said activator element having a heightwise thickness such that, when the margin of the upper is flush with its upper side, the throat of the upper is accurately positioned heightwise of the male form, a mold part complementary to the male form operative to clamp the upper in position on the male form, and means operatively associated with the mold part and the activator operative automatically to move the activator to an out-of-the-way position in concurrence with the movement of the mold part into clamping engagement with the male form.

2. Apparatus for shaping and heel seat lasting the back part of an upper to a bottom element comprising, a male form having an exterior peripheral surface complementary to the quarter portion at the heel end of the upper, and an upwardly facing heel seat portion, upon the exterior peripheral surface of which the upper is adapted to be placed with its margin extending above the heel seat portion, and on the heel seat portion of which an unattached bottom element is adapted to be placed within the upstanding margin, spaced upstanding pins situated on the median of the heel seat portion for engagement with holes in the bottom element to hold the latter accurately positioned on the heel seat portion, an activator element corresponding in shape to the marginal edge of the bottom element support for movement from a remote position to a position in engagement with the marginal edge of the bottom element peripherally of the pins, mechanism for effecting movement of the activator into and out of operative position, a part of said activator constituting a heightwise gauge for the upstanding margin of the upper by means of which the upper may be precisely located on the male form in its proper heightwise position, a mold complementary to the male form movable into engagement with the exterior surface thereof to clamp the upper thereto, mechanism for effecting movement of the mold into and out of operative position, and means operative, in response to the movement of the mold toward operative position, to move the activator toward its inoperative position.

3. Apparatus for shaping and heel seat lasting the back part of an upper containing a moldable counter which has been rendered soft and stretchy but which will return to a rigid state comprising, providing a rigid male form having a peripheral surface complementary to the quarter portion at the heel end of the upper, and a flat, upwardly facing heel seat face, upon the peripheral surface of which the softened upper is adapted to be placed with its margin extending above the heel seat face, and upon the heel seat face of which an unconnected bottom part, provided with adhesive marginally of its heel end, is adapted to be placed within the upstanding margin, spaced upstanding pins situated on the median line of the heel seat face for engagement with the bottom part to hold the latter accurately positioned, a horseshoe shaped activator supported for movement from a lateral position to a position in engagement with the adhesive-coated tom part resting on the heel seat face, means for effecting movement of the activator into and out of operative position, said activator having a heightwise thickness corresponding to the height of the margin to be bonded to the adhesive-coated marginal edge of the bottom part by means of which the upper may be adjusted heightwise of the male form, an articulated female mold movable linearly and angularly relative to the male part to embrace the male form and to clamp the upper thereto, mechanism for effecting movement of the female mold into and out of operative position, means operative to marginal edge of the bot- 6 cause the activator to move into operative position, and means operative, in response to movement of the female mold toward the male form, to move the activator to an inoperative position.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, comprising wiper elements and mechanism operative, following movement of the female mold part into operative position, to effect movement of the wiper elements inwardly across the heel seat portion of the male form.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, comprising mold parts which are symmetrical with respect to their median.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1, comprising mold parts asymmetrical according to the hand of the shoe.

7. Apparatus for shaping and heel seat lasting the back part of an upper to a bottom element, comprising a male form having an exterior surface complementary to the quarter at the back part of the upper, and an upwardly facing flat heel seat portion, about the exterior surface of which the upper is adapted to be placed with its margin extending above the heel seat portion and upon which is adapted to be placed a bottom element, spaced positioning elements on the heel portion operative, by engagement with the bottom element therewith, to hold the bottom element accurately positioned, an activator element, means supporting the activator element for movement from an elevated position to a position in engagement with the bottom element on the heel seat portion of the male form comprising an arm pivotally supported intermediate its ends for movement about an axis above and parallel to the heel seat portion, a bracket at one end of the arm to which the activator is pivotally connected, and a motor pivotally connected to the other end operative to raise and lower the arm, said motor being operative, concurrently With the movement of the female mold part toward the male mold form, to tilt the arm in a direction to raise the activator, and means for effecting movement of the activator into and out of operative position comprises a first valve operative to supply a pressure fluid to the motor in a direction to tilt the arm and the activator thereon into engagement with the bottom part, and a second valve operative to effect movement of the female mold toward the male form to clamp the female mold about the upper on the male form, said second valve being simultaneously operative to change the direction of flow of pressure fluid to the motor to tilt the arm and the activator thereon out of engagement with the bottom part,

8. Apparatus for shaping and heel seat lasting the back part of an upper to a bottom element, comprising mold assemblies supported for use in succession, each assembly comprising a male mold and a female mold and said female mold being movable into and out of operative engagement with the male mold, an activator assembly movable from a remote to an operative position, means for effecting movement of the mold assemblies to present them in succession to the activator assembly for engagement of the activator with the bottom element on the male mold, means for effecting movement of a female mold into clamping engagement with a male mold at the operative position of the activator, and means operative, in consonance with the movement of the female mold toward the male mold, to move the activator out of engagement with the bottom element on the male mold.

9. Apparatus for shaping and heel seat lasting the back part of an upper to a bottom element, comprising mold assemblies supported for loading in succession, each assembly comprising a male and female mold part and said female mold part being movable from a remote position to a position into engagement with the male part, an activator assembly movable from a remote to an operative position, means for effecting movement of the mold assemblies successively to the operative position of the activator assembly, means for conditioning the last-named means for operation, means for effecting movement of the female mold part into engagement with the male mold part and simultaneously effecting operation of the conditioning means, and means responsive to the operation of the conditioning means to move the activator into its inoperative position.

10. Apparatus for shaping and heel seat lasting the back part of an upper to a bottom element, comprising a male form having an exterior surface complementary to the quarter at the back part of the upper, and an upwardly facing fiat heel seat portion, about the exterior surface of which the upper is adapted to be placed with its margin extending above the heel seat portion and upon which is adapted to be placed a bottom element, spaced positioning elements on the heel portion operative, by engagement of the bottom element therewith, to hold the bottom element accurately positioned, an activator element, means supporting the activator element for movement from an elevated position to a position in engagement with the bottom element on the heel seat portion of the male form comprising an arm pivotally supported intermediate its ends for movement about an axis above and parallel to the heel seat portion, a bracket at one end of the arm, a ball and socket assembly connecting the activator to the arm, and a motor pivotally connected to the other end operative to raise and lower the arm, said motor being operative, concurrently with the movement of the female mold part toward the male mold form, to tilt the arm in a direction to raise the activator, and means for effecting movement of the female mold into and out of clamping engagement with the male form.

11. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the activator element is adapted to be heated and there is a conductor for supplying heat to said activator.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the activator is adapted to be heated and there is a conductor for supplying heat to the activator.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,197,438 9/1916 Brock 1210.5 2,180,234 11/1939 Haber et al 12-145 2,235,887 3/1941 Kamborian 12-145 2,656,552 10/1953 Butler et al 1212.5 2,724,845 11/1955 Hill 1214.2 X 2,730,733 1/1956 Walsh 12-14.2 X 3,007,182 11/1961 Lauretti 12-535 3,090,980 5/1963 Forma 12-12.5

PATRICK D. LAWSON, Primary Examiner.

JORDAN FRANKLIN, Examiner. 

1. APPARATUS FOR SHAPING AND HEEL SEAT LASTING THE BACK PART OF AN UPPER TO A BOTTOM ELEMENT, COMPRISING A MALE FORM HAVING AN ETERIOR SURFACE COMPLEMENTARY TO THE QUARTER AT THE BACK PART OF THE UPPER, AND AN UPWARDLY FACING FLAT HEEL SEAT PORTION, ABOUT THE EXTERIOR SURFACE OF WHICH THE UPPER IS ADAPTED TO BE PLACED WITH ITS MARGIN EXTENDING ABOVE THE HEEL SEAT PORTION, AND UPON WHICH IS ADAPTED TO BE PLACED A BOTTOM ELEMENT, SPACED POSITIONING ELEMENTS ON THE HEEL PORTION, SITUATED ON THE MEDIAN THEREOF, OPERATIVE, BY ENGAGEMENT OF THE BOTTOM ELEMENT THEREWITH, TO HOLD THE BOTTOM ELEMENT ACCURATELY POSITIONED, AN ACTIVATOR ELEMENT MOUNTED ADJACENT THE MALE FORM MOVABLE FROM AN INOPERATIVE POSITION INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH THE MARGINAL EDGE OF THE BOTTOM ELEMENT PERIPHERALLY OF THE SPACED POSITIONING MEANS, SAID ACTIVATOR ELEMENT HAVING A HEIGHTWISE THICKNESS SUCH THAT, WHEN THE MARGIN OF THE UPPER IS FLUSH WITH ITS UPPER SIDE, THE THROAT OF THE UPPER IS ACCURATELY POSITIONED HEIGHTWISE OF THE MALE FORM, A MOLD PART COMPLEMENTARY TO THE MALE FORM OPERATIVE TO CLAMP THE UPPER IN POSITION ON THE MALE FORM, AND MEANS OPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH THE MOLD PART AND THE ACTIVATOR OPERATIVE AUTOMATICALLY TO MOVE THE ACTIVATOR TO AN OUT-OF-THE-WAY POSITION IN CONCURRENCE WITH THE MOVEMENT OF THE MOLD PART INTO CLAMPING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE MALE FORM. 